NameCensus.

UK surname

Sherwin

From an English place name meaning "bright or clear water," or referring to someone who lived near such water.

In the 1881 census there were 1,613 people recorded with the Sherwin surname, ranking it #2,646 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,008, ranked #3,209, down from #2,646 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Derby St Peter (Boulton), Derby St Michael (Alvaston), Wolstanton and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stoke-on-Trent and South Kesteven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sherwin is 2,236 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.5%.

1881 census count

1,613

Ranked #2,646

Modern count

2,008

2016, ranked #3,209

Peak year

1911

2,236 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sherwin had 1,613 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,646 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,008 in 2016, ranked #3,209.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,236 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Sherwin surname distribution map

The map shows where the Sherwin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Sherwin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sherwin over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1,044 #2,687
1861 historical 970 #2,874
1881 historical 1,613 #2,646
1891 historical 1,711 #2,647
1901 historical 2,033 #2,631
1911 historical 2,236 #2,259
1997 modern 1,821 #3,298
1998 modern 2,100 #3,037
1999 modern 2,113 #3,045
2000 modern 2,106 #3,032
2001 modern 2,042 #3,059
2002 modern 2,044 #3,123
2003 modern 2,024 #3,084
2004 modern 2,007 #3,107
2005 modern 1,988 #3,102
2006 modern 1,989 #3,108
2007 modern 1,999 #3,131
2008 modern 2,015 #3,134
2009 modern 2,083 #3,110
2010 modern 2,153 #3,075
2011 modern 2,121 #3,076
2012 modern 2,079 #3,081
2013 modern 2,068 #3,155
2014 modern 2,062 #3,180
2015 modern 2,036 #3,184
2016 modern 2,008 #3,209

Geography

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Where Sherwins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Derby St Peter (Boulton), Derby St Michael (Alvaston), Wolstanton, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and St Werburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stoke-on-Trent and South Kesteven. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Derby St Peter (Boulton), Derby St Michael (Alvaston) Derbyshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Werburgh Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stoke-on-Trent 017 Stoke-on-Trent
2 Stoke-on-Trent 007 Stoke-on-Trent
3 Stoke-on-Trent 008 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Stoke-on-Trent 025 Stoke-on-Trent
5 South Kesteven 011 South Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sherwin

These lists show first names that appear often with the Sherwin surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sherwin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sherwin, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Sherwin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Sherwin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Sherwin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sherwin is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sherwin falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sherwin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Sherwin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sherwin

The surname Sherwin is of English origin, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "scir," meaning "bright" or "shining," and "wine," meaning "friend." The combination of these two words suggests that the name originally referred to a person with a sunny or radiant personality.

The name is believed to have originated in the southern counties of England, particularly in regions like Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. It is also possible that the name has roots in the village of Sherwin, located in the county of Nottinghamshire.

In the Domesday Book, a record of landowners in England compiled in 1086, there are several entries for individuals with the surname Sherwin or similar spellings, such as Sherwine and Scherwyne. These early records indicate that the name was already well-established in various parts of England by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Sherwin was Robert Sherwin, a landowner from Oxfordshire who lived in the early 13th century. Another notable figure was William Sherwin, a Catholic priest and martyr who was executed in London in 1584 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I for his involvement in the Throckmorton Plot.

In the 17th century, a prominent member of the Sherwin family was William Sherwin (1607-1691), an English mathematician and clergyman who served as a fellow of the Royal Society. He made significant contributions to the study of algebra and authored several mathematical works.

During the 18th century, John Sherwin (1708-1765) was a renowned portrait painter and engraver who worked in London. His portraits and engravings of notable figures of the time, including members of the aristocracy and clergy, are highly regarded and can be found in various art collections.

Another important figure associated with the surname Sherwin was John Keyes Sherwin (1751-1790), a British naval officer and explorer who participated in several voyages to the Pacific Ocean. He served under the command of Captain James Cook and played a role in the exploration and mapping of various islands in the region.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Sherwin who have left their mark on history. The name has a rich heritage and has been carried by people from various walks of life, reflecting its enduring presence in England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sherwin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sherwin surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 289 Sherwins recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.44x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 289 5.44x
Derbyshire 220 8.94x
Lancashire 188 1.01x
Yorkshire 141 0.90x
Leicestershire 138 7.92x
Middlesex 120 0.76x
Cheshire 104 3.00x
Sussex 58 2.19x
Buckinghamshire 52 5.47x
Nottinghamshire 41 1.93x
Surrey 40 0.52x
Warwickshire 30 0.76x
Cumberland 29 2.14x
Kent 28 0.52x
Hampshire 22 0.68x
Essex 17 0.55x
Lincolnshire 11 0.44x
Northamptonshire 11 0.74x
Flintshire 10 2.37x
Northumberland 10 0.43x
Shropshire 8 0.59x
Worcestershire 8 0.39x
Devon 7 0.21x
Durham 7 0.15x
Rutland 7 6.06x
Wiltshire 4 0.29x
Hertfordshire 3 0.28x
Oxfordshire 2 0.21x
Somerset 2 0.08x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.10x
Cardiganshire 1 0.26x
Gloucestershire 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 0.53x
Westmorland 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 136 Sherwins recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.16x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 136 24.16x
Boulton 31 2818.18x
Wycombe 27 38.10x
Hackney London 23 2.61x
Loughborough 23 29.07x
Bethnal Green London 19 2.78x
Hugglescote 18 70.18x
Manchester 18 2.15x
Nottingham St Mary 18 3.28x
Burslem 17 11.18x
Derby St Alkmund 17 23.04x
Leeds 17 1.93x
Sandbach 17 57.43x
Ashby De La Zouch 15 37.12x
Aston 15 1.37x
Smallthorne 14 71.07x
Wolstanton 14 8.68x
Wilne 13 230.50x
Barrow In Furness 12 4.73x
Basford 12 12.28x
Brampton 12 34.87x
Derby St Werburgh 12 8.44x
Litchurch 12 12.11x
Salford 12 2.19x
Alvaston 11 156.92x
Islington London 11 0.72x
Leicester St Margaret 11 2.59x
Leicester St Mary 11 7.81x
Ripon 11 30.43x
Brassington 10 269.54x
Derby St Peter 10 12.75x
Greenwich 10 3.99x
Holmesfield 10 377.36x
Holywell 10 18.84x
Kirk Ireton 10 383.14x
Newcastle Under Lyme 10 10.65x
Alverstoke 9 7.71x
Audley 9 17.14x
Bostock 9 849.06x
Bottesford 9 125.70x
Carthorpe 9 514.29x
Cleator 9 15.97x
Dalton In Furness 9 12.49x
Everton 9 1.51x
Hyde 9 8.79x
Kingston On Thames 9 4.89x
Kirkdale 9 2.87x
Macclesfield 9 5.83x
Walsall Foreign 9 3.28x
Caverswall 8 29.00x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 2.70x
Desford 8 165.29x
Great Marlow 8 31.18x
Handsworth 8 6.11x
Ingleton 8 91.22x
Lambeth 8 0.58x
Ludworth 8 69.03x
New Shoreham 8 50.35x
Singleton 8 267.56x
Uxbridge 8 44.52x
West Wycombe 8 62.02x
Wirksworth 8 35.75x
Wombwell 8 17.61x
York St Mary 8 12.40x
Ardwick 7 4.16x
Birmingham 7 0.53x
Brighton 7 1.31x
Castleton 7 3.76x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 2.21x
Hinckley 7 16.92x
Leyland 7 21.57x
Shitlington 7 43.42x
Shoreditch London 7 1.03x
Subdeanary 7 98.18x
Cheetham 6 4.31x
Clerkenwell London 6 1.62x
Ealing 6 4.27x
Northampton All Sts 6 11.95x
Shelf 6 40.32x
Wardleworth 6 5.63x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sherwin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 113
Sarah 71
Elizabeth 55
Emma 35
Ann 34
Jane 31
Hannah 28
Eliza 24
Alice 21
Annie 19
Ellen 17
Margaret 16
Catherine 13
Maria 13
Florence 12
Caroline 11
Harriet 11
Louisa 11
Lucy 11
Ada 10
Charlotte 10
Edith 10
Frances 10
Martha 10
Clara 9
Fanny 9
Kate 9
Anne 8
Emily 8
Agnes 7
Amelia 7
Isabella 6
Minnie 6
Rachel 6
Lizzie 5
Susan 5
Harriett 4
Rose 4
Betsy 3
Elizth. 3
Esther 3
Ethel 3
Helen 3
Henrietta 3
Jessie 3
Rosa 3
Ruth 3
Selina 3
Sophia 3
Susannah 3

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Sherwin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 104
John 95
George 63
Thomas 57
Joseph 46
James 45
Henry 31
Charles 22
Samuel 22
Arthur 20
Alfred 18
Harry 16
Robert 15
Albert 14
Frank 14
Edward 11
Ernest 11
Walter 9
Edwin 7
Frederick 7
Richard 7
Daniel 6
Herbert 6
Ralph 6
Stephen 6
Francis 5
Percy 5
Wm. 5
Anthony 3
Archibald 3
David 3
Enoch 3
Enock 3
Hugh 3
Matthew 3
Peter 3
Saml. 3
Alexander 2
Benjamin 2
Duncan 2
Elijah 2
G. 2
Geo. 2
Gerald 2
Jesse 2
Leonard 2
Mordicai 2
Rupert 2
Sam 2
Sydney 2

FAQ

Sherwin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sherwin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,613 people were recorded with the Sherwin surname. That placed it at #2,646 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sherwin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,008 in 2016. That gives Sherwin a modern rank of #3,209.

What does the Sherwin surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "bright or clear water," or referring to someone who lived near such water.

What does the Sherwin map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sherwin bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.